A hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday that Weems remains in fair condition.

Knighten of West Point told The Associated Press on Sunday that, before he and Weems entered a Waffle House early Saturday, a man outside the restaurant had waved him over and told him it wasn't safe for white people because people were upset over the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. When he entered, Knighten said, Weems was arguing with a couple of other patrons.

Brinkley said a Waffle House employee told police who answered a 1 a.m. disturbance call that a patron was creating a disturbance and upsetting other patrons. After he was asked to leave, employees also asked the other patrons to leave, Brinkley said.

Knighten said that as he and Weems headed from the Waffle House to Weems' house, they went into a Huddle House restaurant with a nearly vacant parking lot. However, he said, they apparently had been followed by more than 20 African-Americans. Knighten said he came out of the rest room to find Weems surrounded. When he and Weems left, Knighten said, some in the group kept him behind Weems, and when he emerged Weems was being kicked.

Knighten said he himself suffered broken facial bones, a cut above one eye and a blood clot in the other.

Brinkley told AP that surveillance video and witness accounts indicate far fewer than 20 people were involved and watching. He said investigators reviewing video believe most if not all the people on a list of other possible suspects are from Monroe County, adjacent to both Clay County, where West Point is located, and Chickasaw County, where Okolona is located.